Australia's second largest city is a leading center for education, arts and culture that attracts thousands of study abroad students to its shores each year. On the banks of the Yarra River in the Southeast corner of Australia, the cosmopolitan and culturally diverse city of Melbourne pulsates with vibrant energy. Home to some of the country's finest institutions of higher learning, Melbourne offers fields and courses of study for students of all academic levels and backgrounds.

Melbourne has more than 30 tertiary institutions, earning it recognition as one of the world's top university cities. The University of Melbourne, Australia's second-oldest university, and the modern Monash University are two of the world-class universities that have contributed to this deserving accolade. U.S. students can apply to either of these prestigious institutions through Arcadia University, Center for Education Abroad. Other reputable universities in Melbourne include La Trobe University, RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) and Swinburne University of Technology.

Part of the University of Melbourne, the Victorian College of the Arts is Australia's leading institution for undergraduate and graduate students of visual and performing arts. The City of Melbourne has invested in a number of programs to encourage artistic expression and support the art and culture of the indigenous Kulin nation. Creative Spaces is a joint initiative with Arts Victoria aimed at increasing affordable studio space, while Public Art and Signal are designed to bring multi-media artworks to the city's streets. Other arts activities include Melbourne Arts, Indigenous Arts, ArtPlay and Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ.

Melbourne offers opportunities for internships in many fields. The city is a hub for finance, commerce, business and technology, a focal point for tourism, and the country's music and sports capital. Students in the health sciences, medicine, nursing, psychology, community health and related fields are also drawn to Melbourne. The city has more than 30 public hospitals and health service organizations in the area, many of which offer experiential learning and practical training placements.

The peoples of the Kulin Nation - the Wurundjeri, Boonerwrung, Taungurong, Djajawurrung and Wathaurung - have lived in the Melbourne area for at least 40,000 years. European settlement began in 1835, when the farmer and businessman John Batman set down his anchor at Port Phillip Bay and purchased a large tract of land from the aboriginal chiefs, including what is now known as Melbourne. The Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850s led to a second wave of immigration, further Aboriginal displacements, and a rapid expansion of the city.

With the arrival of more Europeans after World War II and Vietnamese and Cambodian immigrants more recently, Melbourne has gained a reputation as a multicultural capital, and today the city is home to people tracing their origins to more than 140 nations. Housed in the beautifully restored Old Customs House, the Immigration Museum pays homage to these various ethnic groups and the local indigenous community.

The original heart of Melbourne was a carefully planned grid of wide boulevards and lavish Victorian gardens. Modern Melbourne is a blend of 19th century and contemporary architecture, with an ever-changing skyline and a network of suburbs, each with its own distinct ethnic character. Students enjoy meeting friends and strolling through the intricate series of laneways that wind through the city, passing by chic restaurants, funky boutiques and intimate sidewalk cafes along the way.

Sports, recreation and leisure activities are an integral part of the Melburnian lifestyle, and the city is home to the National Sports Museum. The two most popular sports are Australian rules football and cricket. Melbourne boasts hundreds of amateur clubs and sports grounds devoted to a wide range of athletic activities. Basketball, rugby, tennis, golf and soccer are all favorite past-times. Melbourne's year-round temperate climate is ideal for water sports, especially rowing along the beautiful Yarra River. One of the most scenic jogging routes is Tan Track, which follows the boundary of the Royal Botanic Garden.

Melbourne's excellent educational institutions, lively arts and culture, and emphasis on health and active lifestyle are just a few of the reasons why more than 70,000 university students seek out the city each year.

Resources -

IIEPassport.org: www.IIEPassport.org
Study Abroad Funding: www.StudyAbroadFunding.org
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: www.iie.org/gilman
Arcadia University, Center for Education Abroad: http://www.arcadia.edu/abroad/default.aspx?id=6930
City of Melbourne: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au
Melbourne: The Official Site: www.visitmelbourne.com

Find Study Abroad programs in Melbourne